Lane marker



May 17, 1938. L. M. PRINCE, JR 2,117,982

LANE MARKER Filed Sept. 14, 1935 ZZZ fi W/% j 1\\ \W Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for marking lanes within swimming tanks.

It has been the custom to mark swimming lanes in the tanks by stretching cables or the like from end to end of the tank. These cables have been provided with spaced relatively large buoyant bodies for the purpose of supporting the cable upon the surface of the water. However, there are certain attendant disadvantages. This type of marker does not prevent the back or side wash and consequently the progress of the swimmers in adjacent lanes is interfered with. Moreover, when a swimmer contacts with one of the buoys, it impedes his progress. The present invention aims to obviate these disadvantages and presents certain advantages that have not heretofore been present in lane markers.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention, the tank being shown in section, Figure 2 is a plan view, Figure 8 is a sectional detail view, Figure 4 is a similar view of a modification, 25 and Figure 5 is a similar view of another modification.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the marker includes a cable I 30 that is unyieldingly attached to an end wall of the tank at 2 and is attached to the other end wall by means of a spring or the like 3. Substantially from. end to end the cable is surrounded by a series of buoyant bodies such as corks 4. These corks, which are substantially and preferable cylindrical in form, are contiguously arranged, thus presenting a smooth, buoyant and yieldable body.

It will be observed that the presence of the 40 spring 3 will maintain the marker taut and yet will permit it to yield in the event that it should be struck by a swimmer. When the marker is struck and deflected it will be rapidly brought into position by the spring. The presence of the continuous line of corks will tend to prevent the side or back wash from interfering with the swimmer in the adjacent lane.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4 the cable and spring are replaced by a resilient element 5 such as rubber which element is attached to the end walls of the tank in any suit- I able manner.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 10 the lane marker is constituted by a pneumatic tube 6 that is provided with a cap 1 at one end which carries an attaching means 8. This cap is also provided with an opening that is closed by a valve 9 which may be operated to permit the 1 inflation of the tube through the opening. This form of the invention will present all of the advantages attributed to the other form of the invention.

It is of course to be understood that when a 20 tank is referred to that this is merely for the sake of convenience as the invention is applicable to all swimming areas and courses whether enclosed or unenclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A lane marker including a cable adapted to be attached to one end of a tank, a spring on one end of the cable and adapted to attach the cable to the other end of the tank, and a series of buoyant bodies surrounding said cable and presenting a smooth surface from end to end of the cable and sufficiently buoyant to support the cable in water and of a size sufficient to prevent sidewash between the lanes.

2. A lane marker, for swimming lanes, including a cable and a spring attached together, a series of individual buoyant bodies of substantially equal diameters surrounding said cable and presenting a smooth and substantially continuous surface, said bodies being sufiiciently buoyant to support the cable in water and of a size sufficient to prevent side wash between the lanes.

LEON M. PRINCE, JR. 

